As the largest city not only in Brazil but also the southern hemisphere, it is fitting that São Paulo is making its mark in the contactless world.

Its public transport system has introduced the technology to millions of people, with an estimated 1,700 transit locations in the city now accepting contactless cards.

It has also been active in the campus cards market. Students at the city’s Anhanguera University are being issued with multi-application contactless campus ID cards that they can use as both EMV debit and university access control cards. Gemalto provided the cards to Banco Santander Universities Group, which delivered the technology. An estimated 100,000 students have been issued with the cards since the scheme started at the end of 2008. They can be used to check out books in libraries, access labs and to make payments at the cafeteria.

Other universities in São Paulo have also rolled out contactless campus programs with the backing of companies such as OTI America. Like Anhanguera University’s scheme, these use the cards for access control and payment.

Contactless technology has also made it into the retail payments market. In 2009, Banco Bradesco and Banco de Brasil began a trial based on Visa payWave. Working in conjunction with cell phone operator Claro, around 70 users were enabled to make payments at fast food chains and cinemas using Nokia handsets.